Husband going with you for internal scan?

[Jen306]

I have an appointment at the premature prevention clinic next week. I’ve been given the appointment because I had lletz treatment to remove abnormal cells 5 years ago and where I live the automatically refer you for a check if you’ve had this done.

I think that to measure the cervix they do an internal ultrasound scan.

If any of you have had internal scans did you husband/partner stay with you in the room whilst it was done?

My fiancé has always stayed in the room for internal scans. Like a smear, your covered anyway with a sheet or paper. Plus fiancé has obviously seen it before!

Yeah my partner was with me. As PP said. Nothing they haven't seen before haha

I had an early scan when I had my MMC, DH stayed in the room. The sonographer left the room while I got undressed and gave me a large sheet to cover myself and I got back on the bed.

She didn't really move the sheet for the scan, just inserted the probe thingy under the sheet. Nothing DH hadn't seen before.

But I'm sure if you'd prefer to be alone you could ask your dp to leave for that bit?

They give you something to cover up somehow anyway for an internal. I feel more at ease with him there, he's always been with me at scans.

Yes me DH was always present for all scans. Only thing he wasn't there for was when I had to go in again a few days after DD was born to have some large clots removed but he would have done if I'd wanted him to. As pp say they give you paper to put over your bikini area if you don't want him to see everything. But generally I think it's good for DHs to see what their partners have to go through during pregnancy and labour - helps remind them to worship you!!

With pregnancy and ivf scans I had him with me. Years ago (when he was just dp) the male doing a gynae scan insisted he left for the internal as he didn't feel comfortable with my partner there. Wish I'd complained. It made it weird and uncomfortable

Yes, he sits to the side of me and I'm covered so he's there for support but doesn't 'seem anything. They're good at covering you up etc.. I like having the support.

Thanks ladies. I was explaining to him that this would be an internal scan not like the 12/20 week ones that we’ve been too and had to explain what that meant.
He then asked will I be there for not and I said that I had assumed so! I think he thought that was more medical and therefore he wouldn’t be/he did say he might feel uncomfortable seeing that. I pointed out I was undoubtedly going to be more uncomfortable!
He then laughed as he realised that he wanted to be there for the birth and what that would involve seeing!! And said that if I want him there than absolutely he’d be there but just got me wondering what other people did!

I’m quite nervous in case they find my cervix is too short for the stage and that the treatment I had is causing complications. So think I’m questioning things a little more than usual.

@Littletabbyocelot I’m sorry to hear you want through that - it seems most unprofessional and definitely would make the situation more uncomfortable for everyone surely! I must admit I’m hoping for a female conducting this as I think both me and my partner would feel more relaxed but nothing against male doctors/nurses it’s just one of those situations where I personally would feel more comfortable. Other times it wouldn’t bother me two hoots! But I think combo of the intimacy, partners initial reticence and the nerves and worry of this are all factors.

I had the same following lletz, lots of internal scans and my husband was in the room when he could come along. Hope all goes well with the scan, even if they find any issues it's better to find them than not know. I was monitored and given progesterone pessaries from 24 weeks due to a shortening cervix and DD stayed put until 40+5.

@Jen306 not sure if it reassures you at all but I had a lletz in 2017. In my area that triggers no additional checks and my DS is 3 weeks old. Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well

Thanks both

I've had my husband with me for some internal scans, even had my best mate there for one! It's fine, your modesty is preserved at all times. The most uncomfortable part was when the sonographer put a condom on the probe (obviously for hygiene reasons)

A large part of my job is doing internal scans. (nurse at a fertility unit) I'd say about half of my patients have their partners present, unless they are coming back for repeated scans, which obviously gets in the way of work commitments. I encourage the men to sit up head end, the odd couple prefer them to leave the room or sit behind the curtain. Most of the men that stay are quite interested in the screen some of them can reel off the women's cycle better than the patient! all good, as long as the patient is comfortable

And yes, why do patients and partners watch intently when putting the condom and gel on the probe??

I had my Best Friend with me for both my internal scans. I was covered up so it didn't bother me. I was terrified and She held my hand both times. Unfortunately I didn't get good news on my second one. Found out Baby had passed. By which point I was crying on her shoulder and not bothered which part of me had become exposed if the sheet came off. When they took us into a private side room she held me and comforted me as I screamed and cried. And as much as I would've like my Partner who was Truck driving at the time with me she was probably the best person to have there because she was able to ask the questions I'd written down just in case I needed them plus tell me later what the Drs had said because I couldn't remember properly.

Thanks for the replies everyone it’s my husband who feels more uncomfortable about being there than I do about having him there. It’s funny because he’s so supportive of the pregnancy, me, all the other appointments and he even asked the midwife all about the antenatal classes because he wants to know the best way he can support me during labour and what to expect etc. So not like he’s not wanting to be involved. Think it’s something to do with the thought of someone else putting something up there - although he’s not actually said that!

I have given him the option not to come if it’s an issue but I think he knows I want him there just in case they say my cervix isn’t behaving!

No need for him to be uncomfortable... and I'm extremely private and Dh is quite squeamish. We had an early internal scan after a previous miscarriage and he honestly couldn't even tell or see what was happening. I had a sheet over my lower half and they just popped the thing in, completely fine, just like a smear or something

I've had internal scans for non pregnancy gyne stuff. I'd prefer to be on my own in the room but be accompanied to the appointment. They're not the worst but a bit grim so it's nice to have him there. I don't think it's really odd to have your dh there if you want.